Floor Statements

Mr. President, for the information of Members, we are going to have four more votes tonight. I urge Members to sit in their seats so we can get these done quickly, like we did last week.

I ask unanimous consent that the votes be 10 minutes each.

Mr. President, I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate vote on confirmation of the Stark and MacBride nominations.

Mr. President, I ask that the Senate now vote on the motion to discharge the Bagenstos nomination, as under the previous order.

I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding rule XXII, upon the conclusion of morning business tomorrow, February 10, the Senate proceed to consideration of Calendar No. 264, H.R. 4445; that the time until 11 a.m. be equally divided between the two leaders or their designees; that at 11 a.m. the bill be read a third time and the Senate vote on passage of the bill without further intervening action or debate; further, that upon on disposition of H.R. 4445, the Senate proceed to executive session and resume consideration of the Vekich nomination and, at 11:45, the Senate vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination, and, if cloture is invoked, the Senate vote on confirmation of the Vekich nomination at 1:45 p.m.; finally, if any nominations are confirmed during Thursday's session, the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to legislative session and be in a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

Mr. President, I understand there is a bill at the desk and I ask for its first reading.

I now ask for a second reading and, in order to place the bill on the calendar under the provisions of rule XIV, I object to my own request.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 10 a.m. on Thursday, February 10; that following the prayer and the pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day and morning business be closed; that upon the conclusion of morning business, the Senate proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 264, H.R. 4445, as provided under the previous order.

For the information of Senators, we expect to have one rollcall vote at 11:45 a.m. and one vote at 1:45 p.m.

Mr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that it stand adjourned under the previous order.

I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. President, yesterday, our colleagues in the House introduced legislation that will provide a temporary extension of government funding until March 11. The continuing resolution is expected to be taken up as soon as today, and once it is passed by the House, I intend to have the Senate take it up quickly and in time before the February 18 deadline.

While negotiations on the full-year funding agreement continue, we will in the meantime avoid a pointless and costly government shutdown. This CR provides a little more time to reach a deal for a spending package. It is the responsible and prudent path forward that eliminates the risk of a shutdown.

My colleagues have made good progress, and I am optimistic that Democrats and Republicans can soon arrive at a top-line deal for an omnibus. I am more confident than ever before that we can reach agreement for an omnibus by March 11, which is far more preferable to the alternative, a CR for the rest of the year.

Mr. President, now on nominations, today, the Senate will continue focusing our responsibility to confirm more of President Biden's nominees.

By the end of today, we expect to finish the confirmation of four more nominees, including Amy Gutmann to

serve in the pivotal role as U.S. Ambassador to Germany.

For the information of all Senators, there is a strong likelihood that a significant number of additional votes will be held later today. If so, we want to make sure things keep moving briskly on the floor. Just as we did last week, I ask my colleagues to cast their votes quickly, to remain in their seats or near the floor as much as possible, and to be flexible in order to prevent extended delays. We did a good job of it last week, so let's continue the pace this evening as well when we move forward on more votes.

Off the floor, it is an important day for my home State of New York when it comes to nominations. A few moments ago, it was my honor to come before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and introduce Assemblyman Nick Perry to serve as Ambassador to Jamaica. I was also proud to introduce Randi Charno Levine to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Portugal. It would be impossible--impossible--to find a better fit for Ambassador to Jamaica than my friend Nick Perry, whom I urged the Biden administration to select for the post.

Assemblyman Perry represents so much of what is good and promising about America: He is an immigrant; he is an Army veteran; he is a graduate of Brooklyn College and one of New York's leading voices fighting for working families. He is a very, very familiar face in Brooklyn because he likes to do politics the old-fashioned way: shake hands, show up as much as possible, and just listen to people's stories.

When confirmed, Assemblyman Perry would make history as the first ever native-born Jamaican to serve as U.S. Ambassador. It is a truly important milestone and one that is long overdue, and it makes Brooklyn particularly proud.

When I go through Brooklyn, I sometimes ask my constituents, particularly at the West Indian Day Parade, I ask them: What is the largest island in the Caribbean? I tell him it is a trick question. Some people say Cuba. Some people say Haiti. Some people say Barbados.

I say, no, Brooklyn is the largest island in the Caribbean because we have more Caribbean immigrants than just about anywhere else. And that is why Brooklyn, particularly, is so proud that Nick is going to become our Ambassador to Jamaica. Not only is he Jamaican-born, but he is a Brooklynite through and through.

From Patrick Ewing to KRS-One, from Vice President Kamala Harris to Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, to the late General Powell, Jamaican Americans hold a key place in our Nation's rich legacy. Nick Perry will continue to add to this legacy, as he has for decades. So I am so proud to support him and to recommend him as nominee for Ambassador to Jamaica.

This morning, it was also my honor to introduce Randi Levine to become only the second woman to ever serve as Ambassador to Portugal. I have known Randi and her husband Jeff for over 30 years. They have been longtime advocates for many different communities across New York, especially our Jewish population.

As chair of the Meridian Center for Cultural Diplomacy here in Washington, Randi has also been one of our top leaders for promoting cultural exchanges between students, diplomats, and business leaders. In other words, she has already advanced--in a different context--the work that any good Ambassador must accomplish: encouraging and fostering understanding between our country and people around the world. I have every bit of confidence that Randi will represent the United States with distinction as an ambassador to Portugal, and she has my most enthusiastic support.

Finally, I also want to recognize and commend the nomination of Professor Deborah Lipstadt to serve as the State Department's Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism, a position that carries the rank of Ambassador.

Dr. Lipstadt's leadership is desperately needed. The malicious poison of anti-Semitism must be confronted whenever it rears its ugly head. We have seen a spike of anti-Semitism here at home and abroad, making this position exceedingly important.

As one of the Nation's top scholars on the Holocaust and on modern- day anti-Semitism, Dr. Lipstadt ought to be confirmed as soon as possible, and I am glad she is receiving her confirmation hearing today.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that at 5 p.m. today, the Senate vote on the confirmation of the Wong nomination.

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate resume consideration of the Bush nomination.

Mr. President, I move to proceed to legislative session.